Therapy for the whole being

There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.

— Rumi

What is Whole Being Psychotherapy?

whole being psychotherapy is Where the mind, Body, and spirit meet for therapy

Whole Being Psychotherapy is a holistic, integrative approach to psychotherapy. Holistic psychotherapy works with the premise that we are whole beings - with minds, bodies, and spiritual lives - and that all of these parts of ourselves need to be addressed to achieve complete wellness. By working therapeutically with your whole being, you will achieve a deeper understanding of yourself, your strengths and your challenges. With this deeper understanding comes the ability to enact profound and lasting changes in your life.

What does Whole Being Psychotherapy look like?

I am trained in traditional psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral talk therapies, embodied therapies such as therapeutic yoga and body awareness, and spiritual practices such as mindfulness and self-compassion. Together we will create an individualized combination of these practices that helps you form a deeper connection to your authentic self and develop insight and tools to overcome challenges.

Will I be doing yoga poses?

Not necessarily. Our first session(s) will be a discussion of your needs and goals as well as what treatment modalities work best for you. A few people may move into physical body work more quickly, but for most we’ll start (when you’re ready) with some simple seated practices that help you become aware of how your body feels.

Do I need to wear yoga clothes?

Nope! Early sessions will be in your chair. If and when we decide to include more physical poses into your therapy, you can wear something that you’re comfortable stretching a little in, but this will never be a “workout”.

What does “spirituality” mean?

Whether it is a walk in nature, prayer, connection to your community, meditation, or religious services spirituality plays an important role in whole health. Our beliefs and perceptions of ourselves as spiritual beings often go unexamined and unspoken of, but our spiritual experiences, whether positive or negative, can deeply impact our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. Attention to your spiritual life, whatever that means for you, can be a catalyst for profound healing.

I come from an ecumenical and undogmatic background. I am trained in Eastern, Western, and humanistic beliefs and practices and am comfortable discussing and practicing any of these with you.

About Sarah Ward, LCSW, MDiv, CYT

I am a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist with a lifelong passion for yoga and mindfulness practices. I received a degree in Advanced Clinical Practice from Columbia University and a Master’s of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary, where my work focused on the intersection of psychology and spirituality. I received certification as a yoga instructor from the Integral Yoga Institute, one of the oldest ashrams in the United States, and in trauma sensitive yoga from the Justice Resource Institute in Boston and Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. I have been teaching yoga since 2000 and have spent the last nine years practicing psychotherapy and therapeutic yoga in a variety of settings including community mental health clinics and universities.

I believe deeply that everyone is capable of overcoming their challenges and achieving emotional well-being. Through professional experience, diverse trainings, and evidence-supported research I have found that integrating physical and spiritual practices into psychotherapy can help to achieve a more complete state of well-being than talk therapy alone.